Key Verse: “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” (Matt. 5:1-2)
At one time, there was a fairly broad shuffling of responsibility in the company where I worked. A number of us were newly appointed as supervisors, and we were driven to the company training center for a week to be prepared for our new roles. The first thing we got was an orientation talk to tell us what to expect. It was very helpful, putting things in perspective.
One day early in His ministry, Jesus sat down with His disciples, at His training center on the side of a mountain, and presented to them their orientation talk—the Sermon on the Mount. What were they to expect from such a talk? Would He begin with the Ten Commandments, with a clear statement of the gospel, with an explanation of the church He was going to build? No, He began with a statement of radically new values, values that cut across our modern ideas and make these ideas look petty and self-centered.
Here is a comparison. (The word ‘happy’ is used in the Modern Beatitudes and ‘blessed’ in Jesus’ Beatitudes to suggest that without God there may be a hope of happiness, but with Him there can be the reality of being blessed. The first is a mere feeling, but the second is a result of living in the hands of God, being blessed by God.)
| MODERN BEATITUDES vs JESUS’ BEATITUDES |
| Happy are the self-confident, for they will be successful. |
| Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
| Happy are the positive thinkers, for they will fulfill their dreams. |
| Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. |
| Happy are those who are strong, for they can manage life. |
| Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. |
| Happy are those who hunger and thirst for fame, for they will become respected. |
| Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. |
| Happy are those who have caring friends, for they will feel comfortable. |
| Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. |
| Happy are the uninhibited, for they will feel free. |
| Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. |
| Happy are those who can beat others, for they will find success. |
| Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. |
| Happy are those who do not offend others and promote harmony, for they will be popular. |
| Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” are among the unalienable rights given us by our Creator according to the US Declaration of Independence. Whether or not this is true, God offers us more than happiness. He offers to bless us, and that goes far beyond anything we can hope to attain by our own efforts.
We can pursue happiness in the wide world with these modern beatitudes as our guiding lights, or we can place ourselves in the hands of the Living God and experience the blessedness He gives. It may not always be pleasant, but God loves us as sons and daughters and is shaping us to the character of his perfect Son. When we feel poor in spirit, we can receive God’s blessing. When we are mourning we can receive his comfort, and when we are gentle, his confidence. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, He can satisfy us. In all of these experiences of life, those are the attitudes God blesses.
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust your values rather than those the world offers. Let your Word be my guide and your love my motivation. Help me to focus on your glory and let You take care of my happiness. I would rather have your blessing than all this world offers.
Author: Lindsay Hislop was raised in southern Scotland and southern Ontario and now lives in the southern United States. He worked in the engineering field for 15 years (mostly in Canada) before pursuing an academic career. He has taught for over thirty years at Columbia International University. He also serves as an elder in his church, where he teaches and preaches regularly. He is married to a wonderful wife Pam and has two terrific children, Holly, who lives in Canada, and Doug, who lives in Columbia. His four grandchildren, Isaac, Madeline, Lindsay, and Dolan, are also pretty special. He likes doing carpentry and odd jobs around the house.
